Chapter 33: Isn’t It Fun to Walk with a Beautiful Girl?

"Uh... Gao... Gao Qinghe, how have you been lately?" Li Xiang stared at the Gao Qinghe before him, stammering for a long time before getting out a complete sentence. His voice was barely audible; his Adam's apple bobbed visibly. He didn't dare look her in the eye—only stole a quick glance, then quickly lowered his head to stare at his feet.

The clothes she had worn when she left their rental apartment were far more luxurious than this T-shirt, and the bags and boxes she had carried had honestly startled him. But now she was completely different. Her long hair was casually draped over her shoulders, the ends brushing her collarbone. The collar of her T-shirt was slightly open, making her look soft and relaxed.

Yet Li Xiang felt that this Gao Qinghe—unadorned, full of ease—was even more distant.

'Maybe this is who she really is, and before she was just too anxious and nervous, a little lost.'

"Me? I'm doing pretty well. Ah, today I came to accompany Lin Xi to class. She's feeling a bit unwell..." An involuntary warm smile spread across Gao Qinghe's face. She looked at the nervous, uneasy Li Xiang and unconsciously showed a slightly forced look of concern. Her smile was still soft, her almond-shaped eyes curving gently as she gazed at her former roommate. "Brother Li Xiang, how are you and Sister Xiao Qin? You two must have made up after that, right?"

"...We made up. Yeah. Sorry about that—you must have been embarrassed." Li Xiang's fingers ran through his hair in a messy grab, his gaze never daring to linger on her face for too long. His cheeks and ears were as red as boiled shrimp.

'Embarrassed or not, shouldn't I be the one apologizing?'

'If his girlfriend hadn't come in, I might have actually done something outrageous to Li Xiang—'

'God, what happened in that rental apartment already feels so distant. It was only a little over a week ago, but it feels like years have passed. Because since that day, I've never once thought about it.'

"Brother Li Xiang, I should be the one apologizing. You really helped me back then." Gao Qinghe realized she had never properly thanked Li Xiang. Her voice was soft, carrying sincere apology, but she unconsciously took half a step forward.

"Uh, no, it's nothing." Li Xiang rubbed the back of his head again, looking embarrassed. Whether it was because they were at school or something else, he didn't seem happy about being thanked by a beautiful girl. He still looked uneasy. "Well... I'm glad to know you're doing okay. I'll be going then..." His shoulders hunched slightly, his hands fidgeting with his backpack straps, as if he couldn't stand it anymore and wanted to escape.

'No, I can't just let him walk away after a couple of words like this. We've become way too distant.'

Gao Qinghe recalled how Li Xiang had helped her in the rental apartment. If he hadn't believed her story without a second thought, found her clothes, and covered for her, would her subsequent affairs have gone so smoothly?

"Ah, actually, I was planning to buy something hot for Lin Xi." Gao Qinghe spoke, feeling a bit puzzled and also a little uncomfortable seeing how nervous he was. "Brother Li Xiang, would you like to come along? ...It might be hard for me to carry everything alone."

'At the very least, I should buy him a coffee and catch up, right?'

Li Xiang hesitated, thought for a long time, then agreed.

On the way to the coffee shop with Gao Qinghe, Li Xiang was inexplicably tense. He didn't know what to do with his hands or feet, kept his head down, and his steps became sluggish and stiff. Students on the sidewalk kept throwing envious and jealous looks their way, but walking beside her, Li Xiang seemed to be trying to shrink his presence, his neck nearly disappearing into his shoulders.

'Why is that? It can't be because he's afraid his girlfriend will find out, can it?'

Gao Qinghe couldn't understand. Back in the rental apartment, hadn't he been fine? Nervous, yes, but not shrinking away like this or daring to look at her. Even when he had frantically cleaned the room for her, he hadn't been this flustered.

"Brother Li Xiang, uh... are you okay?"

'Other guys would be overjoyed to walk with me. Why is Li Xiang acting so timid?'

"I'm fine... Ah, how has Gao Jingdong been? He hasn't replied to my WeChat messages either..." Li Xiang's voice was muffled. He still kept his head down, not daring to turn and look at her, though his steps unconsciously slowed.

Only then did Gao Qinghe remember that after Xiang Bei gave her a phone the next day, she had never picked up Gao Jingdong's old phone with the cracked screen again.

"He... he's mountain climbing now! I told him to send more photos, but he only replies sporadically. Don't worry, he's doing fine..."

Gao Qinghe pinched the edge of her clothes. Hermès T-shirts really had good quality—they didn't wrinkle easily.

"Ah, is that so..." Li Xiang seemed relieved, but also a little wistful. "That guy, he used to talk every day about 'if we get rich, don't forget each other,' and now no one knows where he's gone."

"Hey, don't worry about that! My cousin said he'll definitely send you money—today, right away!" 'To be honest, I only have the 300 RMB my mom first sent me, but even if I have to sell these Hermès things secondhand, I can't shortchange a brother!'

"No, what are you thinking? I don't want his money!" Li Xiang quickly waved his hands. "I just... ah, forget it. I'm glad to know he's doing well. I hope he doesn't forget his brother."

A sour feeling welled up in Gao Qinghe's heart.

'This guy Li Xiang is really someone you can count on. I can see that he genuinely cares about me. If it were someone else, they might resent a brother who suddenly vanished without a word and at the very least expect him to treat them to a meal. But Li Xiang just muttered one sentence—he doesn't seem to blame him at all.'

'But how can I keep being brothers with Li Xiang looking like this?'

Gao Qinghe thought for a moment, then quickly came back to her senses.

'...Well, I still have two more choices, right?'

'Once I turn back into a man, earn some money, and get my revenge, I'll definitely treat my brother well...'

"Oh, we're here." Gao Qinghe pointed at the coffee shop. "Brother Li Xiang, let me buy you a cup of coffee. Consider it an apology on behalf of my cousin, and also thanks for your help earlier..."

Someone must have held the door for them, but Gao Qinghe just habitually waved her hand without paying attention. The two walked into the coffee shop, once again causing a small commotion.

"Ah... I'd better skip the coffee." Li Xiang rubbed the back of his head, looked at the exquisitely decorated café, at the gazes and whispers clinging to Gao Qinghe, and at Gao Qinghe herself in her expensive clothes. He refused, somewhat awkwardly. "Let Gao Jingdong treat me next time. It's fine—just buy what you need, and I'll carry it for you!"